Skip to main content

tv   Presidential Inauguration 2013  CBS  January 21, 2013 10:00am-1:00pm EST

10:00 am
♪ the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. >> ask not what your kit ♪ o say, can you see by the dawn's early light ♪ country can do for you. >> the government is not the solution to our problem. government is the problem. >> a new breeze is blowing. and the nation refreshed by freedom, stands ready to push on. >> there is nothing wrong with america that cannot be cured by what is right with america. >> the best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world. >> and we are ready to lead once more.
10:01 am
cbs news coverage of the second inauguration of barack obama. from capitol hill, here is scott pelley. >> good morning. the nation's capital is beginning a day-long celebration of american freedom and democracy. for the 57th time in our history, a president freely elected by the people is being sworn in to office. just before noon at the capitol, barack obama will take the oath for his second term as president. this is a ceremonial swearing-in because the constitution requires the president to be sworn in on january 20th, and this year the 20th fell on sunday. so the president took the official oath in private yesterday in the blue room at the white house. the oath administered by the chief justice john roberts, jr. the public swearing-in and all the pomp and circumstance that go with it were put off until today and what a day it is. the temperature right now is in
10:02 am
the high 30s. the sky is clear, a brilliant winter's day in the nation's capital. people are pouring into the national mall to witness a day of history. the first family began the day by attending services at st. john's church. that's right across the street from the white house. that's a long-standing tradition for presidents on inauguration day. joining me now in our cbs coverage is bob schieffer, our chief washington correspondent and anchor of ""face the nation."" bob, what are you expecting to see? >> well, it's going to be an important day for the nation, but i must say, you know, the fiscal cliff negotiations, the slaughter of those children in connecticut made it difficult for washington to be festive this time around. it's also a very unusual atmosphere because of this gridlock. i mean, you're not hearing people talk about hope and renewal this time around, but is the government broken? the whole system. and what can we do to fix it?
10:03 am
people want washington and its politicians to work together. the politicians as yet have not been a i believe to figure out how to do that. but, you know, inaugural speeches can sometimes change the mood. you heard fdr, the only thing we have to fear. i remember when gerald ford said our long national nightmare is over. jack kennedy, ask not what you can do for your country. difference in how the nation feels about itself and about what's going on. i would say this. if there was a time when this country needed to hear a good speech and wanted to hear a good one, i think this would be the time. so let's hope we get a good one. >> of course, there was lincoln's second inaugural where he talked about the wounds of the nation. we know that the president has been working on this president for weeks and major garrett, our chief white house correspondent, is at the white house this
10:04 am
morning with a little bit of insight on what we might hear today. >> well, good morning, scott. those closest to the president tell us this speech is in the moment and it's going to talk, they hope, credibly, believably about responsibilities ahead. and the prospect for not only bipartisan compromise, and things that didn't seem achievable four years ago. it might be worth reminding us ourselves how the president ended first inaugural address four years ago. scott, the president talked about america being in the midst of a winter of our hardship and he urged the nation to brave icy currents and to endure whatever storms may come. there was a sense of forboding then, a sense of crisis, both economic and otherwise, that white house advisers that he feels is no longer as present now as it was then. so that's part of the optimistic note he'll say, we have achieved things. we have more work to do, but it can be done together. that will be the central core and theme of this speech i'm
10:05 am
told. and the president believes that president which could not have been delivered four years ago has a chance to resonate today. >> major, it bears noting that when the president delivered the winter of our hardship speech, the unemployment was 7.8%. the unemployment rate is 7.8%. so it's still a great deal of work to be done on the economy and a great many other things. nora o'donnell, the co-anchor of "cbs this morning" is down on the national mall and she has insight on what the president is looking to in a second term. >> that's right. on a day like this when most americans have expressed their frustration with washington, political leaders, this is day that we see hundreds of thousands of americans turn out to witness this piece of history. every second-term president since dwight eisenhower has had to deal with an opposition party in congress. that's nothing new that president obama is facing in this second term. but he's going to try and capture i think some of the magic of bipartisanship on a day
10:06 am
like today. trying to put it in a bottle. because he really has a very ambitious agenda for his second term. we have heard him talk about it. gun safety, immigration reform. deficit reduction and those looming spending cuts that are a part of the sequestration. so that's lot before the president. but as major has noted this is a speech today that's not about specifics, but setting the tone and trying in some ways to push the reset button. >> thank you very much. the president and the first family are back at the white house this morning, but they started their day right across the street from the white house at st. john's episcopal church where our wyatt andrews is standing by this morning. >> scott, good morning. every president since franklin roosevelt, that's 80 years, has begun inauguration day here at st. john's church. the president arrived early this morning with the first lady, daughters malia and sasha, and the family of vice president biden. they came to a 50-minute prayer
10:07 am
service. attended also by about 600 members of the parish and congregation. they also got some news when they heard that their reverend will be giving the benediction. the previous one had withdrawn after he gave an anti-gay sermon 20 years ago. he began today worshipping at the church known as the church of presidents. >> wyatt, thank you very much. also at the white house today, david axelrod is joining us this morning. the former city hall bureau chief of "the chicago tribune," but perhaps better known to everyone these days as the chief strategist and architect of the president's victory in 2008 and his most recent re-election as well.
10:08 am
david, thank you very much for joining us this morning. >> great to be with you, scott. >> as we noted earlier, the unemployment rate on inauguration day in 2009 was 7.8 and it's 7.8% today. the president has a lot of work cut out for him. what do you think we will see from the president with regard to the economy going forward in the second term? >> well, first of all, i think it's worth noting it was 7.8% on the day he took office and it went up to 10.2% when the full brunt of the recession hit. and we have to build on it, not just to get the unemployment rate down, scott, but to make sure that people who work hard can get ahead. that they have a sense that their kids can do better. we have to not only take care of our fiscal problems but also make some investments in education and research and development, innovation. to get control of the energy future. all of that will be a part of the president's vision for the
10:09 am
next four years. >> you know, bob schieffer mentioned earlier this morning the tragedy in newtown, connecticut, the president is proposing a number of changes to the gun laws in this country. how much a part of the president's resolve will that be in the months coming? >> well, the thing -- the president always said that, you know, you have to do many things at once when you're president, and that's a very important thing. we can't keep replicating these tragedies and it's not just the big tragedies, but the small, smaller strategy dtragedies than the streets every day. so he's determined to move forward on this package of laws. they're not the only things we need to do. some of the things have less to do with government and more to do with what we -- what we do in our home. what our children play and in terms of video games and what they watch. but certainly we need to do something about guns. we are hopeful that we're at a moment when we can pass the impasse that we have seen in the
10:10 am
past and really move forward on it. >> hey, david, bob schieffer here. >> hey, bob. >> in normal times, probably we wouldn't report this, but in these fractured times this just in as they say. i'm told that speaker boehner, eric cantor, the number two republican in the house, and mitch mcconnell, the republican leader in the senate, are at the white house right now having coffee with the president. do you think that there really is a chance that there can be some sort of a get together, bipartisan effort, something we haven't seen thus far? >> you know, not on everything, bob, but on some things for sure. not just because people are becoming enlightened, but because of their self-interest. if you look at your own polling and the polling that we have seen in the last few days, the republican party is trading at record lows. the congress at almost record
10:11 am
lows. the strategy of obstruction has not been worked well for the republican party. that's why i think you saw them retreat from the plan to push this debt ceiling issue immediately upon returning to work. so i think that there's a prospect for getting some things done. certainly on issues like immigration reform. there's a powerful impetus for there to be progress. i think we can make some. >> david, thank you very much. you're going to be leaving the president's side and starting an institute of politics at the university of chicago and we wish you all the luck in the world. >> you guys, i need you out there. >> nancy cordis is there as a number of the dignitaries begin to take their seats. what are you seeing? >> scott, there are 1,600 seats that have been set up on the
10:12 am
west front terrace of the capitol. people who will be surrounding the president as he takes the oath of office. we are still awaiting the announcement of the dignitaries who will come out in groups. first, the nation's diplomatic core, the governor, then the cabinet, the joint chief of staff, and supreme court. and two former presidents, bill clinton and president carter who will both be in attendance today. we won't see the other two living presidents george h.w. bush who was just released from the hospital and is who is now recovering, and george w. bush who sends his regrets. >> so as it happens because of the illness of the elder mr. bush, there will be only democratic presidents in attendance today. very, very unusual circumstance. the headline of the hour, the news broke moments ago by bob schieffer is that the republican leadership at this moment is in the white house having coffee with the president.
10:13 am
perhaps a hopeful sign that agreements might come with the new year. here's what's coming up the rest of this inauguration day. at 10:40, the president and mrs. obama leave the white house for the capital. the inaugural ceremonies begin at 11:30 and include the ceremonial swearing-in of vice president biden. then at 11:55, president obama will be sworn in by chief justice john roberts. and at noon, the president will deliver his inaugural address. that will be followed by lunch at the capital. then around 2:30, the president leads a procession back to the white house where he and the first lady will watch the inaugural parade along pennsylvania avenue. down there among the people on the national mall is our national correspondent byron pitts. what do you see? >> good morning. 400,000 people were lucky enough to get tickets.
10:14 am
they were members of the white house or the congress. about 30,000 people will sit closest to the podium. here in the same area four years ago. back then there was a great deal talk of race and the historical importance of the moment. i remember watching it, men and women wept as then president-elect obama took the oath of office. today, far less talk about race, mostly about the nation's business. but scott, there is a sense of joy in the air today, on this most american of days. scott? >> byron, thank you very much. cbs news coverage of the president's second inauguration will continue live from washington in just a moment. ♪ [ male announcer ] how do you make 70,000 trades a second...
10:15 am
♪ reach one customer at a time? ♪ or help doctors turn billions of bytes of shared information... ♪ into a fifth anniversary of remission? ♪ whatever your business challenge, dell has the technology and services to help you solve it.
10:16 am
in that time there've been some good days. and some difficult ones. but, through it all, we've persevered, supporting some of the biggest ideas in modern history. so why should our anniversary matter to you? because for 200 years, we've been helping ideas move from ambition to achievement. and the next great idea could be yours. ♪ i have the flu... i took theraflu, but i still have this cough. [ male announcer ] truth is theraflu doesn't treat your cough. what? [ male announcer ] it doesn't have a cough suppressant. great. [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus severe cold and flu fights your worst flu symptoms, plus that cough with a fast acting cough suppressant. [ sighs ] thanks!... [ male announcer ] you're welcome. that's the cold truth! [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus. ♪ oh what a relief it is! ♪ [ male announcer ] to learn more about the cold truth and save $1 visit alka-seltzer on facebook. i obsessed about my weight my whole life.
10:17 am
i figured i was just born that way. i was always on some new, life-stopping diet. and then, weight watchers. it lets me be me. and i naturally became a healthier me. i amazed myself. get used to it. because when a weight loss program is built for human nature you can expect amazing. introducing the new weight watchers 360 program. join for free and expect amazing. because it works. welcome back. it's inauguration day on cbs. and what a beautiful, glorious day for the president's second inaugural address which we will be hearing at about noon eastern time. bob schieffer and i are joined by cory booker this morning. he is the mayor of newark, new
10:18 am
jersey. you have been mayor since 2006. welcome back to your home up to. you were born here. >> i was born here. i didn't move to new jersey until i was an old man at 4 months old. >> you have driven crime rates down, doubled the amount of affordable housing in newark. you have been known to shovel driveways of your constituents when it snows and you have saved a woman from a burning house. that's good work. >> i appreciate that. the city as a whole is coming together to do incredible things. >> what can the president do for cities as he goes into the second term? >> first of all, i have to say the grandeur of this day is incredible. i talked to my mom, she was here in 1964, organizing for the watch on washington. she can't believe that now there's a monument to martin luther king on the mall. and that an african-american president is being -- is being elected and for her, she said the most humble tone, these were dreams that were dangerous to even articulate when i was growing up and now i'm seeing
10:19 am
america in that way. this is the beauty of this day. you have the president being inaugurated at a time that coincides with martin luther king's birthday. and it's a good reminder that as tough as things seem, bob, as difficult and challenging of a moment we should in american history, this idea that we are a country that is constantly evolving and changing and the president has a chance to make some incredible history now. immigration reform i think is going to be strong. i think he can find a note of unity on gun safety. here you have a nation where over 80% of gun owners believe in things like universal background checks and closing secondary markets. this gives the president the arc of the moral universe and bending it to justice and showing that this country is strong at the core. >> mr. mayor, thank you for helping us put the day in perspective, especially since
10:20 am
it's simultaneously martin luther king day. >> thank you for uniting this country. left or right, republican or democrat, it's a day to unite the country. >> cbs news coverage of inauguration day will continue in a moment. 1981, reagan moved it from the east front of the capitol to the west. the idea was to no longer toward europe but to the front. and the hostages held in iran for 444 days had been set free. a regular guy with an irregular heartbeat. the usual, bob? not today. [ male announcer ] bob has afib: atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem, a condition that puts him at greater risk for a stroke. [ gps ] turn left. i don't think so.
10:21 am
[ male announcer ] for years, bob took warfarin, and made a monthly trip to the clinic to get his blood tested. but not anymore. bob's doctor recommended a different option: once-a-day xarelto®. xarelto® is the first and only once-a-day prescription blood thinner for patients with afib not caused by a heart valve problem, that doesn't require routine blood monitoring. like warfarin, xarelto® is proven effective to reduce the risk of an afib-related stroke. there is limited data on how these drugs compare when warfarin is well managed. no routine blood monitoring means bob can spend his extra time however he likes. new zealand! xarelto® is just one pill a day, taken with the evening meal. and with no dietary restrictions, bob can eat the healthy foods he likes. do not stop taking xarelto® rivaroxaban without talking to the doctor who prescribes it for you. stopping may increase your risk of having a stroke. get medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of bleeding, like unusual bruising or tingling. you may have a higher risk of bleeding
10:22 am
if you take xarelto® with aspirin products, nsaids or blood thinners. talk to your doctor before taking xarelto® if you currently have abnormal bleeding. xarelto® can cause bleeding, which can be serious, and rarely may lead to death. you are likely to bruise more easily on xarelto®, and it may take longer for bleeding to stop. tell your doctors you are taking xarelto® before any planned medical or dental procedures. before starting xarelto®, tell your doctor about any conditions, such as kidney, liver or bleeding problems. ready to change your routine? ask your doctor about once-a-day xarelto®. for more information including cost support options, call 1-888-xarelto or visit goxarelto.com.
10:23 am
welcome back to inauguration day 2013. i'm scott pelley. cbs news joined in our anchor booth by bob schieffer and now douglas brinkley. one of this nation's foremost presidential historians, a professor of history at rice university and the author of a recent biography of walter cronkite. thank you for being with us. >> my pleasure. >> you got a call from the white house. the president wanted to see you to talk about his second inaugural address.
10:24 am
you and some of your colleagues in the world of history. you can't tell us exactly what happened in that meeting because of course it was off the record. you wanted to give private advice to the president, but give us a sense of what it was like in the room and the things that the president might have been interested in. >> well, early on in his first term, he had a cabal of presidential historians, doris kearns goodwin and myself and others and this last one where he was very relaxed. you hear people talk about the gridlock in washington. this is a president that's also relieved. i mean, 2012 was a tough election. he pulled -- even after the denver debate problem, so he seemed very relaxed, very interested in abraham lincoln. no big surprise. any time he gets presidential historians together he loves to talk about lincoln. he is a scholar of lincoln. he reads everything he can on him and he think the second inaugural of lincoln is one of the great documents over time. it's been quoted over time, with
10:25 am
malice towards none speech. the fact that we'll have a lincoln bible there today and it's the 150th of the emancipation proclamation is something he's interested in. >> we heard he's frustrated over washington right now. we hear that republicans say he doesn't like us. and did you find him frustrated? did you find him eager? how would you find his state of mind? >> very eager to move forward and not fall into this second curse, you know, of a second term. i mean, he's got to -- recognizes in history, in second terms he recognizes people did great thing. bill clinton would not be a great bill clinton if he hadn't done the budget surplus at that term. and diplomacy for reagan's term.
10:26 am
and maybe he'll do something in a climate change. something you could not have touched in the first term. he tried a few times. but i think that's something that will come up in the second term, how do we grapple with the climate problem? >> doug brinkley, thank you very much. you'll give us historical context and perspective on this remarkable day in history. we'll look forward to talking to you in a little bit. chip reid is down there on the national mall. what are you seeing down there? >> well, scott, you can see behind me the crowd stretches from 9th street to the u.s. capitol. this is a third of the size of the crowd of four years ago. that crowd 1.8 million people was by far the biggest crowd in the history of presidential inaugurations. in fact, it was the biggest crowd for anything on the mall in american history. this crowd is actually probably going to be the fourth largest in history for inaugurations. but compared to that one, it's quite small.
10:27 am
one thing we have seen among this crowd quite a bit is families with young children. we talked to one family from georgia. four years ago they brought their 2-year-old son here to see president obama's first inauguration. this time, they brought that son who is now 6 and their two twins who are 6 months old to book end the obama inaugurations. they want their children to see for the rest of their lives that they were here. scott? >> chip, thank you very much. we are looking at various washington dignitaries coming in to the capitol and taking their seats, waiting for the inauguration of the president, which will be coming up at about 11:55 eastern time. cbs news coverage of the inauguration of president barack obama will continue in a moment. [ male announcer ] when your business is powered by verizon,
10:28 am
10:29 am
you can do more business per second. and with more reliable internet, that's more per second. and with a dedicated line, it's more per second. and with an additional line, it's more... table for 15? [ male announcer ] ...per second. but most importantly, it's more... mmm! [ male announcer ] ...per second. get verizon high-speed internet and phone for just $84.99 a month when you sign up online with a two-year price guarantee. plus a $200 verizon visa pre-paid card and an additional line included. verizon.
10:30 am
cbs coverage of the presidential inauguration continues. here again is scott pelley. >> welcome back to washington on this glorious inauguration day. i'm joined by bob schieffer and former secretary of state colin powell, from the bush administration. also former chairman of the joint chief of staff. and perhaps a man who has the busiest retirement i have seen. you put out another new book "it worked for me, lessons in leadership." congratulations on that. >> thank you very much. it's a book i'm proud of. 44 anecdotes of what worked for me. may work for you, may not.
10:31 am
take a look. >> now, few people have as much experience as you have. how is a second term different than a first? >> well, you're building on a record and i think the president has a good record to build on. he has fixed the financial system or stabilized it. the economy is starting to improve. housing is up. automobile production is up. stock market has doubled. but there's a lot more to be done. gun control, climate control, immigration policy, and so i'm glad he was re-elected so he can continue that work and we don't sort of start from zero again. i hope today in his inauguration address he will speak to the americans and give us a vision. and i think he'll do that. i think he understands the importance of a second inaugural address. >> second terms are ones in which everyone in the administration is in a hurry. it's not really four more years. >> it's two more years. two more years and then the campaign starts again.
10:32 am
and everyone will reposition themselves. i think the president understands this. >> so in your book you talk about what worked for you. what would you advise the president to do from a practical standpoint? what would you pick out as the most important thing he needs to do now and how would you advise him to go about it? >> the economy and the fiscal situation. the economy is something that will improve over time, i think, and continue to improve. but i'm deeply troubled about the difficulty we're having in the national debt negotiations. the fiscal cliff. the sequestration, continuing resolution. these people can't really plan until they have a better understanding. congress and members of the business community can't plan until these issues are behind us. i was kind of pleased to see that the republicans offered a new idea with the debt ceiling a few days ago. that's good. in the last week or so we have seen some changes on the republican side on immigration. a more -- more of an understanding for the need for an immigration policy. the country is becoming more and more diverse and minority.
10:33 am
this is good. only in the united states could we handle this kind of diversity and we should be proud of it and we should educate the young people and give those who are not here under legal status an opportunity to gain some kind of legal status. that's what the legal immigration should be all about. and also, climate and gun control and all the other things that are before him. >> how did he get washington off the dime here? what's the first thing? >> one of the things that has gotten so much attention, he doesn't get along with come, doesn't spend enough time with them. i know he's thinking about that. i hope he does reach out more than he has in the first four years and i hope congress is ready to reciprocate. they can't defeat him in the election anymore. today is the day we come together as a nation and dedicate ourselves to doing the things that people want. what i have been saying to everybody, our founding fathers
10:34 am
used to argue like the devil. i mean, they were really at each other. but at the end, they compromised to create a nation, to create a constitution. and in the spirit of arguing, feeling strongly to find a consensus that has to be the spirit of the second administration. second term. >> foreign policy is your expertise. three weeks ago we would not have thought of africa being a threat to americans. what concerns you about that situation? what can the president do about going forward? >> i think if we're talking about mali and places around mali, the president should support those who are going to lead the french. the french have a unique relationship and interest in mali. i think we should support them to the extent we can. they're one of our nato allies and they have been a friend of ours. but we have to keep our eye on the places. i don't think it will require american soldiers on the ground, but we have to realize that al qaeda has been badly diminished. let's not overlook the success we have had.
10:35 am
but it doesn't mean it's gone away. and it doesn't mean that every al qaeda cell is getting ready to attack the united states of america. they're doing other things in the region as well. so be vigilant. help our friends. i don't think there's a need for a commitment of american troops. >> mr. secretary, thank you so much for being with us. as we watch this live shot of the entrance to the west wing of the white house where we're expecting the president and the first lady to come out any moment now to go to the limousine and take the trip of 1.6 miles to the capital for his second inauguration. mr. secretary, thank you for your time. >> thank you. john dickerson, our cbs 23450us -- news political director is down there on the national mall. and john, what are you expecting as we await the president's departure from the white house? sgll well, scott, in talking to someone close to president obama about this speech, they
10:36 am
started -- their description of it is well, he won't say that he won, but when you start a description that way, although it will be about coming together and what a divided washington can do on these big problems, inside this speech there will be an argument for the values he fought for during the campaign. this is not a speech that's specific, paired with the save the union. the specifics will be in that. this is about themes. but in it, the president will be making a case for what he won. this is part of his new ton in the second part of his -- his second administration which is a more aggressive tone. and in dealing with congress one final note. it's not so much that he doesn't think schmoozing will work because they're not nice people. he just thinks that a deal made with republicans in congress in the house specifically will not get through the house. and that he has to be more aggressive because only aggression will get deals made. >> john, thank you very much. this is a live shot of the
10:37 am
entrance to the west wing of the white house where we're expecting to see the president and the first lady very shortly. major garrett is just steps away on the north lawn of the white house. major? >> scott, moments like this are full of solemnity, precision and grandeur. it's built around the inauguration, and i can tell you that senior staff of the president and those who work most closely with him on the campaign have been waiting for the president to step out. he's going to begin the capital variation of the inaugural festivities. before he comes out, the president spent time enjoying a ceremonial and practical confrontation if you will or a session with the realities of divided government. all the congressional leadership, republican and democrat, were here for coffee before the president heads to the capitol. he talked about ending recriminations, and worn out
10:38 am
dogmas and republicans believed when they gained back control of the house of representatives, not every grievance they said was petty. they said the representation of the republican constituents ought to matter. some of the grievances that occurred afterwards were long and bitter and full of recriminations. the inaugural address i'm told is meant to reflect on that, talk about possibilities in the future. bipartisan and otherwise. but before coming out, he spent some time with the congressional leadership over coffee. we were told that it was a calm, happy and joyous affair. because on a day like today, lawmakers come together to support their re-elected president and await his arrival. >> thank you very much. of course, very often when we are watching this scene in american history, the president and the first lady walk out of
10:39 am
this door with the president-elect and the first lady to be, those times when there's a transition from one president to the next. but today, of course, it will just be president obama and first lady michelle obama as they head to the presidential limousine. bob schieffer, there have been a number of times in american history when the defeated president or the departing president and the president-elect have ridden together in a car or a carriage to the capitol. and sometimes that hasn't gone so well. >> one of the most awkward and worst moments. truman and eisenhower, they didn't like each other at all. they hardly spoke in the car. but you can just imagine having to get into the car with the guy who just beat you. and there's nobody that could find that very pleasant. it mean, it brings new meaning to the childhood phrase, are we
10:40 am
there yet? here they come. >> and of course, mrs. obama stepping into the limousine. since we leave no stone unturned here at cbs she was wearing a thom browne coat and dress we are told. fabric was based on the style of a man's silk tie. we'll be seeing a lot more of that. i have people who hand me cards, bob. we have very, very smart people here at cbs news whose job is it to make me look smart. that's how we know that. we'll be expecting the president here shortly. i don't believe we have seen the vice president yet either. of course the marine guard standing there at the door as always. nora o'donnell our colleague and host of "cbs this morning" is down there at the mall. >> you described her clothing
10:41 am
choices and sasha and malia, wearing purple. not red or blue, but purple. now we see the vice president, joe biden, as he joins the president there in the limousine to take this ride up to capitol hill. >> and the president's limousine standing by. this is the driveway right there in front of the west wing. the entrance to the west wing. if you go through this door and make a right, you'll find your way to the president's office and the press room and the offices of the national security council and all the other offices of the west wing. as bob schieffer first reported earlier this morning, the president has been meeting with the congressional leadership. the republican leadership in particular. he's been having coffee with them after the prayer service the president attended earlier this morning. quite a gesture as he approaches the beginning of his second
10:42 am
term. in hopes of more cooperation. and here is the president now with charles schumer, the senior senator of new york. >> mr. schumer i believe is in charge of the congressional committee that puts the inauguration on. he'll be speaking before the president takes the oath this morning. of course, there will be no lack of conversation on this trip to the capitol. of course you'll have the vice president there. he can always be counted on to -- if there's a gap in the conversation, he'll fill it. >> it will be something to see whether between the vice president and senator schumer the president can get a word in edgewise on this short trip up. it's about 1.6 miles. i'm reminded that abraham lincoln once said about this trip, he said i have always been told that i'm going to hell, but i didn't realize it was two miles up the road with a dome on top of it.
10:43 am
i'm sure all presidents feel that way from time to time. the president's armored limousine now moving past the entrance to the west wing and will soon be on its way out of the white house grounds and up pennsylvania avenue. senator schumer who is riding with the president will be essentially the master of ceremonies today at the inauguration event on the west front of the capitol. senat senator schumer is the chairman of the joint congressional committee on inaugural ceremonies so he'll be giving the very speech, a very brief speech today, and then as i said the master of ceremonies for all of the rest. there you saw the press van in front of the president's limousine which is sending us this beautiful live picture of the limousine.
10:44 am
major garrett just saw the president drive by his location. major? >> yes, scott, i don't know if you can pick it up on the microphones but there's a huge roar from those in the bleachers just outside the fence. on the north side of the white house, as the presidential limousine began to emerge on to pennsylvania avenue for that very short drive up to capitol hill. i think we had a picture briefly of the new license plates on the presidential limousine. they have what is here referred to as the taxation without representation license plates. that's about home rule and eventually statehood here in the district of columbia. those are brand new on the president's limousine. he did not have them for if first -- for the first four years of his presidency, but in solidarity with the residents of district of columbia, he had them put on. this a new thing for the president on this inauguration day. they're making their public debut as the president makes his
10:45 am
way up pennsylvania avenue to the capitol. scott? >> and just ahead on this motorcade route is cbs news correspondent and our state department correspondent margaret brennan. what do you see from your vantage point? >> well, the president is passing by at any moment, scott. this is freedom plaza. this is where martin luther king penned his i have a dream speech. a bit of poetic resonance today. you can see the police escort is starting to drive by right now. along this route, behind the police, you will see u.s. marines lining the parade route. they are facing away from the crowd. they're not carrying any arms. they're not here for law enforcement. they are purely here to salute the commander in chief as he passes by. there are more than 1,000 members of the military here today. all four sectors and the coast guard here to salute the president because this is
10:46 am
considered a ceremonial change of command for the commander in chief coming in. and as you can see the motorcade just now passing by here at freedom plaza. and the crowd is erupting, they are waving to the president as he passes by. you can see some of the bleachers are still somewhat empty. getting filled up. people really want to be here and see the president walk out of that car on his return after the swearing-in. this is one of the few places along the parade route where you can see a straight shot through to the u.s. capitol building here. >> margaret, thank you very much. as you can see no problem with the traffic for the president. he seems to be getting up pennsylvania avenue with no concern of traffic. we want to be sure to catch the president as he arrives at the
10:47 am
capitol which will be in a couple of minutes. so we will break away for just a moment as our cbs news coverage of the inauguration of barack obama continues in just a moment. this portion of cbs news inauguration coverage is sponsored by citi. supporting progress for 200 years. in that time there've been some good days. and some difficult ones. but, through it all, we've persevered, supporting some of the biggest ideas in modern history. so why should our anniversary matter to you? because for 200 years, we've been helping ideas move from ambition to achievement. and the next great idea could be yours. ♪ and the next great idea could be yours. go, go, go, go! bye sweetie. honey what are you doing? we gotta go! it's dress-like-a-president day, i'm supposed to be martin van buren.
10:48 am
who? martin van buren! google? martin van buren. ♪
10:49 am
[ male announcer ] the rhythm of life. [ whistle blowing ] where do you hear that beat? campbell's healthy request soup lets you hear it... in your heart. [ basketball bouncing ] heart healthy. great taste. mmm... [ male announcer ] sounds good. it's amazing what soup can do. but i'm still stubbed up. [ male announcer ] truth is, nyquil doesn't unstuff your nose. what? [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus liquid gels speeds relief to your worst cold symptoms plus has a decongestant for your stuffy nose. thanks. that's the cold truth!
10:50 am
cbs news coverage of the inauguration of the president continues live. this is the president's motorcade making its way up pennsylvania avenue. a short trip of about 1.6 miles and the president's motorcade is approaching the capitol now. there we see the outgoing treasury secretary tim geithner, as a number of dignitaries are now arriving at the capitol. there is the president's limousine now. the president left the white house with the first lady just a few moments ago. the vice president is in the car with him. and the senior senator of new york, charles schumer, who is also essentially the master of ceremonies at today's inaugural events at the capitol. here's the car now approaching the capitol.
10:51 am
our jan crawford is inside the capitol now, as a number of people are beginning to arrive. jan, what do you see there? >> well, scott, a few moments ago almost all of it seemed like the united states senate just walked by here to file outside and take their seats. they're on the west front to await the ceremonies that of course will be coming up. then after the president gives his inaugural address he will come in here, he'll come through the rotunda, walk by that bust of dr. martin luther king, jr., and then into statuary hall for a tradition that's the most exclusive lunch you can imagine. all of the nation's leaders, the president, the vice president, congressional leaders, supreme court justices, their spouses, they will all gather for a lunch to put politics aside for at least a brief moment. >> thank you very much, jan. as we watch the president's motorcade approaching the capitol, let me give you a little bit of an advanced look on what you're seeing as the
10:52 am
inauguration ceremonies proceed. as we mentioned, senator charles schumer of new york will be the master of ceremonies. he will have a short speech and then he will be introducing myrlie evers-williams, a former chair of the naacp and the widow of medgar evers. the naacp field secretary who was gunned down in 1963. one of the great heroes of the civil rights movement. myrlie evers-williams will be giving the invocation at the beginning of the ceremonies and then we will see justice sonia sotomayor who is one of the newer associate justices on the supreme court. she will be delivering the oath of office to the vice president. this is beyonce coming in now and we will be hearing from her. there are several musical performances today. after the vice president is sworn in, james taylor will be
10:53 am
singing "america the beautiful." then following that, john roberts, jr., the chief justice of the united states will administer the oath of office to the president. we just saw 88-year-old jimmy carter arriving on the scene. former presidents are almost always in attendance at these events, but today, george herbert walker bush and his son, george w. bush are not in attendance. the elder mr. bush has recently been released from a month-long stay in the hospital due to a respiratory ailment and so both bush families announced that they would not be able to attend because of the poor health of the elder george bush. the president after taking the oath of office will deliver his second inaugural address. following that, kelly clarkson
10:54 am
will be singing "my country 'tis of thee." and these are the supreme court justices being led in, led by chief justice of the united states john roberts jr. who delivered the oath in 2009. here is the first lady as she is coming in to the capitol. as we mentioned earlier, she's wearig a dress and a coat by the american designer thom browne. navy blue we are told. there's justice sotomayor. nominated to the supreme court by president obama. she will deliver the oath of office to the vice president. justice elena kagan following her. the nine justices of the supreme
10:55 am
court, filing in to take their seats. jan, you are inside the capitol, as we see the vice president coming in. tell us what we're seeing now. >> well, scott, right now we are getting this -- the supreme court justices walking out. i want to make the point that one of the things that -- and we talk about the president's term and what he can accomplish in his next term in office. the supreme court is something that could have an enormous impact on this country because of course that can be a president's most lasting legacy. those justices will remain on that court long after the president has left town. he's already had a few pointed out two nomination, justices sotomayor and kagan. most believe he'll get one more. maybe two. if a conservative judge retires that court so closely 5-4 with conservatives in the balance, he could change the direction to a more liberal direction. >> there are four justices who
10:56 am
are in their 70's. and ruth baden ginsburg will be 80 in a few weeks. here is the president now as he enters the capitol. let's watch for just a moment. >> thank you. >> greeting the leadership of the house and the senate as he came in. nancy cordes is on the west front of the capitol. which you see before you now. how are things looking now that everyone is arriving? >> well, people are in a pretty good mood, scott. that may have something to to with the weather. anywhere who was here four years ago remembers how frigid it was, 28-plus degrees windchill and there was a lot of talk about the number of republicans who would be sitting this
10:57 am
inauguration out, but i'm seeing plenty of republicans on the front terrace. including senate leaders, a number of senate republicans who are often at odds with the president, like rand paul of kentucky, or chuck grassley of iowa. and the former speaker of the house, newt gingrich who himself was a candidate for president. it's always interesting to see who gets the choice seats next to the president today. on this martin luther king day, we are seeing a number of african-american leaders. the president of the naacp, ben jealous, reverend al sharpton. we are seeing two of the president's former chiefs of staff, william daley and rahm emanuel. >> nancy, thank you. as we see mr. and mrs. clinton. former president oba former president clinton and secretary of state clinton. there will be two nobel peace prize winners on the dias today.
10:58 am
that would be president carter who won the prize in 2002 and of course president obama who has won the prize. as we watch more dignitaries coming on to the west front of the capitol, let's go to our co-anchor of "cbs this morning." >> we saw mr. clinton and secretary of state clinton. one of the few sightings we saw of her, after she was out for a few weeks with the concussion and then the blood clot that was discovered there. bill clinton who is here today as you mentioned scott. the two president bushs will not be there today. we see -- it's a big week too for hillary clinton as she's going to testify in one of her last acts on what happened in benghazi, libya. that's on wednesday when she testifies before congress. >> thank you very much.
10:59 am
♪ listening to the u.s. army dr trumpeteer. >> ladies and gentlemen, president carter and mrs. rosalyn carter. >> the music that you're hearing in the background is, of course, the u.s. marine band, which will celebrate its 215th anniversary this year. the u.s. marine band, the longest running musical organization in the united
11:00 am
states of america. thomas jefferson described it as the president's own band, and they have adopted that as their motto ever since, the president's own. ♪ >> former president carter having one of the most successful careers ever as a former president, starting the carter center, which has been working to promote human rights and peace around the world ever since. and as we mentioned, winning the nobel peace prize in 2002. >> you know, scott, in africa, for example, jimmy carter is one of our most well-known officials because of the work he's done to eliminate disease there, different things like that. it's remarkable what he has managed to achieve since he left
11:01 am
the white house. >> and if we're listening to the army trumpets, that means somebody else of note is about to appear. >> announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the 42nd president of the united states, william jefferson clinton, and secretary of state hillary rodham clinton. >> hello! hey, how are you all? hi! [ cheers and applause ] >> god bless you! >> former president clinton, now 66 years old, has made a post-presidential career out of world peace himself with the clinton global initiative, which
11:02 am
seeks to address issues of poverty, intolerance and conflict around the world. >> mrs. clinton is wearing low heels, by the way, scott, after that, you know, very terrible spill she had when she slipped, you know, and had that concussion. and people were very worried about her after the blood clot developed, but she looks pretty good! i mean, she looks as if she feels pretty good today, and i think a lot of people wondered if she would be here today, but here she is. the president, of course, he always enjoys himself. >> secretary clinton, of course, bob, as you know, came back to work as secretary of state several days ago but is in her last few days as secretary of state, as the president has announced that senator john kerry will be his nominee to be the new secretary of state. as we take this beautiful look
11:03 am
at the crowd on the national mall, let us tell you that our cbs news coverage of the inauguration of the president will continue in just a moment. ♪
11:04 am
[ male announcer ] how do you turn an entrepreneur's dream... ♪ into a scooter that talks to the cloud? ♪ or turn 30-million artifacts...
11:05 am
♪ into a high-tech masterpiece? ♪ whatever your business challenge, dell has the technology and services to help you solve it. visit washington dc every year. some come to witness... some to be heard. we come to make an impact. to learn from leaders... and to lead others. to create... and create change. we are the george washington university... we come to make history. ♪ welcome back to cbs news
11:06 am
live coverage of "the presidential inauguration." with our view of the national mall and now inside the capitol, cbs news has breaking news at this hour, as we watch this scene unfold, from the ten americans who were taken hostage by terrorists in algeria at that natural gas processing plant in the desert. we are now told that the final tally is three americans dead, seven americans rescued in the operation to end that terrorist assault on the natural gas processing plant in the algerian desert. again, three americans have been killed in that terrorist assault, seven americans have been rescued. at the same time, we have breaking news in the world of politics, and bob schieffer has that. >> this is actually pretty good news. the republicans, we're told by a source, have decided to schedule a vote on raising the debt
11:07 am
ceiling on wednesday. so, this means that one of the big hang-ups that everybody was worried about, the republicans have said they would not make a fight over this right now. they've agreed to raise the debt ceiling, as far as we know. this would be for three months, and then they would take it from there. but this gives everybody some breathing room and has to be taken as good news today. >> and now we see live the vice president's sons and the vice president's daughter taking their seat as the families of the president and the vice president are announced here on the west front of the u.s. capitol. we'll be expecting to see the first family again here shortly. and, of course, the crowds up and down the national mall, here to witness american history for themselves. they have a much easier day of it today than they did in 2009. in 2009 when the president took the oath, it was 28 degrees, but
11:08 am
now it's about 39 degrees in washington and it is cloudy but a very beautiful day here, a perfect day for the inauguration of the president. >> looking at those pictures, scott, it's hard to believe that this crowd is only about a half, or maybe not even that much, of the size of the crowd that was here in 2008. it was just an extraordinary gathering, really the largest gathering ever in one place in washington, d.c., 1.8 million people by conservative counts. this one will probably be, you know, not that much. but you look at what a tremendous crowd this is. it just happens to not be as large as the one last time out. john mccain there wearing his shades. and then who is that, orrin hatch in the cowboy hat there? >> i can't quite tell. >> it's either orrin hatch or the lone ranger. >> you know, some of you may be curious about the flags that are
11:09 am
hanging on the front of the u.s. capitol. but before we talk about that, here they are, malia and sasha, the president's daughters. malia now 14 years old and about as tall as the first lady, and sasha now 11 years old. that's their grandmother walking behind them, the first lady's mother, marian robinson. let's listen as they're announced. >> a little bit of a walk from where they were being held in the capitol out to the west front of the u.s. capitol. >> but as they go through that door, scott, it is truly the most spectacular sight in all of washington, because the mall opens up right in front of you. you can see all the way down to the lincoln memorial, even past
11:10 am
the washington monument. you can see it all there. ronald reagan was the one who decided that they ought to have the inaugurations on the west front. up until his time, they held it on the other side of the capitol. but you know, the old movie actor knew the value of a good picture and he walked out and said we need to be having this here, so that's how it got started on the west side. >> and they've been there ever since. norah o'donnell is down there on the mall with the people of the united states. norah? >> and bob's right, there are hundreds of thousands of people here on the mall. they are saying that it would be between 600,000 and 800,000, but this is still expected to be the second largest inaugural in history. >> malia obama and sasha obama. also, miss marian robinson. >> and of course, scott, there you see the first daughters announced. malia 14 and sasha 11.
11:11 am
we heard the president joke recently that they don't want to spend any time with him now that they're teenagers. and so, he would have more time to spend with members of congress, as people are urging him to reach across the aisle. and of course, just like their mother, they are accomplished young women, but there is attention on their fashion, and they both are wearing purple. and malia, who's the taller there, is wearing j. crew, and sasha is wearing a kate spade coat and dress. of course, people pay close attention to that, scott, and as many young women look up to them as role models. >> very shortly we'll expect to see mrs. biden, dr. jill biden, the wife of the vice president, announced and seated as well, as the last few dignitaries take their places at the west front of the capitol. i mentioned the flags hanging in front of the capitol earlier. some of you may have noticed those and wondered what those flags are all about.
11:12 am
well, we can show you a picture of the flags hanging above the group now. there they are. the flags on the outside edges, those are the original betsy ross flags or the betsy ross design. the next flags in are the flags of the incoming president's home state as the united states was constituted at that time. for these purposes, they are considering the president's home state to be illinois, so that is what the u.s. flag looked like when the state of illinois was admitted. and of course, the flag in the middle is old glory as she is constituted today. we'll be expecting to hear the vice president's wife, jill biden, announced very shortly. and then following that, we will have the first lady and the president.
11:13 am
♪ >> there are malia and sasha. malia 14, sasha 11, standing there with their grandmother, marian robinson, the first lady's mother who lives at the white house and has lived at the white house these last four years. >> i think that is such a wonderful thing and such a really good thing, because she's there to be with the grandkids. and you know, what grandma -- i say this as a grandfather -- doesn't want to be with the grandkids? and she's there and she is kind of the core of stability for that family when the family's traveling. grandma's always there. i think it's just terrific.
11:14 am
>> here's dr. biden in the gray outfit with the white pants. the vice president's wife right there in the middle. we should be seeing the first lady announced next. bob, as the dignitaries are passing through the capitol, they're passing under the dome in an area that's called the crypt. now, nobody's buried there. >> no. >> why is it called the crypt? >> well, they had planned for george washington to be buried there, and the capitol was designed, that was the idea. and washington's family wanted no part of that. they decided he'd be buried out
11:15 am
at mt. vernon, at his home. but it has continued to this day to be called the crypt. and you know, when you're covering the capitol like i did for so many years, you know, it's always kind of fun when somebody says there's going to be a news conference at the crypt. [ laughter ] but that's just what they call it. >> here is the first lady now, as she has crossed through the crypt and is on her way down the stairs to the west front of the capitol, sporting her new hairstyle, which we saw for the first time just a few days ago. mrs. obama was standing there with her daughters as the president took the official oath of office which was yesterday at the white house in the white house blue room. >> i hope she's going to be warm enough out there. it's a beautiful coat, but maybe it's fur-lined or something, scott. it gets cold out there on that
11:16 am
podium. i have stood out there doing inaugurals. they used to let the reporters get very close to the podium. and it can get very uncomfortable after you've been out there for a while. some of these people that are out in the crowd have been out there, i think they started seating them around 8:30 this morning, which is -- so, they're probably a little chilly by now. >> well, it's around about 39 degrees out there, which is much better than 2009 when it was about 28 degrees when the president took the oath. but bob, there have been some brutal inauguration days, snowstorms, terrible weather. >> well, ronald reagan, the second time around, remember they had to move it inside the capitol. >> mrs. michelle obama, accompanied by secretary of the senate, clerk of the house of representatives. [ cheers and applause ]
11:17 am
♪ >> mrs. obama making her way to the rest of her family, her daughters and her mother. the president will be seated next to them shortly. next, we should be hearing the announcer present the vice president of the united states. norah, as we watch the vice president making his way to the west front of the capitol, let's switch to you for a moment. >> that's right. and you know, the vice president last night was at an inaugural reception, and he was singing the praises of his boss, barack
11:18 am
obama, and saying he's just getting started, he's just getting started. and he promised supporters at this reception last night that in the weeks and months ahead, that they would reduce gun violence in america, that they would pass comprehensive immigration reform, and he said, "we're going to put this nation's economy on a sustainable path." so, vice president biden has been an integral part, certainly, of this administration. and scott, there was a funny moment, too, this weekend during some of the festivities when the vice president was addressing supporters from iowa and said how proud he was to be the president of the united states. his son had to tap him on the shoulder and let him know that he misspoke. >> let's listen in as they announce the vice president.
11:19 am
♪ >> announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the vice president of the united states, joseph r. biden, accompanied by inaugural coordinator for the joint congressional committee on inaugural ceremonies, kelly fado, senate deputy sergeant at arms martina bradford, house deputy sergeant at arms kerry hanley, senate majority leader harry reid and house democratic leader nancy pelosi. [ cheers and applause ]
11:20 am
♪ >> and, of course, here's the president being led by the house sergeant at arms, paul irving, and followed by the senior senator from new york, charles schumer, who will be master of ceremonies leading up to the president's inauguration. the president passing through the part of the capitol known as the crypt and preparing to be announced at the west front of the capitol.
11:21 am
>> members of the republican leadership behind the president as he is being led to the entrance to the west front. john boehner, the speaker of the house, four years ago in 2009 was merely the house minority leader, now the leader of republicans in the house of representatives. there is the crowd on the
11:22 am
national mall, the vice president. in the foreground, members of the supreme court. >> i guess there's no standard hat for the supreme court members. justice scalia has that kind of large beret kind of thing, and then justice breyer right beside him, something like a bellhop's hat, isn't it? i mean, how do you -- >> many descriptions out there. >> style it, kind of come up with a new hat. >> there's the chief justice, john roberts jr. and here are the ruffles and flourishes from the army trumpeteers announcing the president of the united states. >> announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states, barack h. obama, escorted by jean hard win bore vits, terrance w. gainer, house sergeant at arms paul irving,
11:23 am
chairman of the congressional committee on ceremonies, senator charles schumer, senator lamar alexander, the speaker of the house of representatives, john boehner, senate majority leader harry reid, house majority leader eric cantor and house minority leader nancy pelosi. [ cheers and applause ] ♪
11:24 am
♪ ♪ >> the president gazing out on the crowd and on one of the most beautiful views of america, down the national mall, past the washington monument, all the way to the lincoln memorial. we know that president lincoln has been on the president's mind, as he has written, rewritten and rewritten his
11:25 am
inaugural address for today. the president speaking to charles schumer there, the senior senator from new york. and when the official program begins in just a couple of minutes, senator schumer will be the master of ceremonies, introducing those who will be coming both before and after the president. the invocation will be delivered by myrlie evers-williams, the former chair of the naacp, and of course, the widow of medgar evers, one of the great heroes of the civil rights movement, who was assassinated in 1963. then justice sonia sotomayor will administer the oath of office to the vice president. chief justice john roberts jr. will administer the oath to the president. james taylor will be singing "america the beautiful." immediately after the president's oath, the president will deliver his second inaugural address.
11:26 am
then we'll hear from kelly clarkson, as she sings "my country 'tis of thee." the poet who will speak today is richard blanco. he's a poet who was trained as a civil engineer because his parents insisted that writing would never take him anywhere, but he will be delivering his poetry today at the president's inauguration. and then the benediction will be delivered by luis leon, who is the rector of st. john's church, the little church right across the street from the white house. >> announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the chairman for the inaugurational ceremonies, the honorable charles e. schumer. >> mr. president, mr. vice president, members of congress, all who are present and to all who are watching, welcome to the capitol and to this celebration of our great democracy.
11:27 am
now, this is the 57th inauguration of an american president, and no matter how many times one witnesses this event, its simplicity, its innate majesty, and most of all, its meaning, that sacred and yet cautious entrusting of power from we, the people, to our chosen leader never fails to make one's heart beat faster, as it will today with the inauguration of president barack h. obama! now, we know that we would not be here today were it not for those who stand guard around the world to preserve our freedom. to those in our armed forces, we offer our infinite thanks for your bravery, your honor, your
11:28 am
sacrifice. [ applause ] >> this democracy of ours was forged by intellect in argument, by activism and blood, and above all, from john adams to elizabeth cady stanton to martin luther king, by a stubborn adherence to the notion that we are all created equal and that we deserve nothing less than a great republic worthy of our consent. the theme of this year's inaugural is "faith in america's future." the perfect embodiment of this unshakeable confidence in the ongoing success of our collective journey is an event from our past. i speak of the improbable
11:29 am
completion of the capitol dome and capping it with the statue of freedom, which occurred 150 years ago in 1863. when abraham lincoln took office two years earlier, the dome above us was a half-built eyesore. conventional wisdom was that it should be left unfinished until the war ended, given the travails and financial needs of the times. but to president lincoln, the half-finished dome symbolized a half-divided nation. lincoln said, "if people see the capitol going on, it is a sign we intend the union shall go on." and so, despite the conflict which engulfed the nation and surrounded the city, the dome continued to rise. on december 2nd, 1863, the statue of freedom, a woman, was placed atop the dome where she still stands today.
11:30 am
in a sublime irony, it was a former slave, now free american philip reid, who helped to cast the bronze statue. now, our present times are not as perilous or as despairing as they were in 1863, but in 2013, far too many doubt the future of this great nation and our ability to tackle our own year's half-finished domes. today's problems are intractable, they say, the times are so complex, the differences in the country and the world so deep, we will never overcome them. when thoughts like these produce anxiety, fear and even despair, we do well to remember that americans have always been and still are a practical, optimistic, problem-solving people, and that as our history shows, no matter how steep the climb, how difficult the problems, how half-finished the
11:31 am
task, america always rises to the occasion. america prevails and america prospers. [ cheers and applause ] and those who bet against this country have inevitably been on the wrong side of history. so, it is a good moment to gaze upward and behold the statue of freedom at the top of the capitol dome. it is a good moment to gain strength and courage and humility from those who were determined to complete the half-finished dome. it is a good moment to rejoice today at this 57th presidential inaugural ceremony, and it is the perfect moment to renew our collective faiths in the future of america. thank you and god bless these
11:32 am
united states. in that spirit of faith, i would now like to introduce civil rights leader myrlie evers, who has committed her life to extending the promise of our nation's founding principles to all americans. mrs. evers will lead us in the invocation. >> america, we are here, our nation's capitol, on this day, january the 21st, 2013, the
11:33 am
inauguration of our 45th president, barack obama. we come at this time to ask blessings upon our leaders, the president, vice president, members of congress, all elected and appointed officials of the united states of america. we are here to ask blessings upon our armed forces, blessings upon all who contribute to the essence of the american spirit, the american dream. the opportunity to become whatever our mankind, womankind allows us to be. this is the promise of america. as we sing the words of belief, this is my country, let us act
11:34 am
upon the meaning that everyone is included. may the inherent dignity and inalienable rights of every woman, man, boy and girl be honored. may all your people, especially the least of these, flourish in our blessed nation. 150 years after the emancipation proclamation and 50 years after the march on washington, we celebrate the spirit of our ancestors, which has allowed us to move from a nation of unborn hopes and a history of disenfranchised folks to today's expression of a more perfect union. with ask, too, almighty, that
11:35 am
where our paths seem blanketed by throngs of oppression and riddled by pangs of despair, we ask for your guidance toward the light of deliverance and that the vision of those who came before us and dreamed of this day, that we recognize that their visions still inspire us. they are a great cloud of witnesses unseen by the naked eye, but all around us, thankful that their living was not in vain. for every mountain you gave us the strength to climb, your grace is pleaded to continue that climb for america and the world. we now stand beneath the shadow of the nation's capitol, whose
11:36 am
golden dome reflects the unity and democracy of one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. approximately four miles from where we are assembled, the hallowed remains of men and women rest in arlington cemet y cemetery, they who believed, fought and died for this country. may their spirit infuse our being to work together with respect, enabling us to continue to build this nation. and in so doing, we send a message to the world that we are strong, fierce in our strength and ever vigilant in our pursuit of freedom. we ask that you grant our
11:37 am
president the will to act courageously but cautiously when confronted with danger and to act prudently but deliberately when challenged by adversity. please continue to best his efforts to lead by example in consideration and favor of the diversity of our people. bless our families all across this nation. we thank you for this opportunity of prayer to strengthen us, for the journey through the days that lie ahead. we invoke the prayers of our grandmothers who taught us to pr pray, god, make me a blessing. let their spirit guide us as we
11:38 am
claim the spirit of old. there's something within me that holds the reins. there's something within me that banishes pain. there's something within me i cannot explain. but all i know, america, there is something within, there is something within. in jesus' name and the name of all who are holy and right, we pray. amen. >> i am pleased to introduce the
11:39 am
award-winning tabernacle choir, the brooklyn tabernacle choir, to sing "battle hymn of the republic." ♪ ♪ glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah his truth is marching on ♪
11:40 am
♪ mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord ♪ ♪ he is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored ♪ ♪ he hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword ♪ ♪ his truth is marching on ♪ glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
11:41 am
glory glory hallelujah his truth is marching on ♪ ♪ his truth is marching on ♪ in the beauty of the lilies christ was born across the sea ♪ ♪ with the glory in his bosom that transfigured you and me ♪ ♪ as he died to make men whole,
11:42 am
let us live to make men free ♪ ♪ our god is marching on ♪ glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah his truth is marching on ♪ ♪ marching on ♪ glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah glory glory hallelujah
11:43 am
♪ hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ his truth is march iing on ♪ ♪ marching on, his truth is marching on ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> please join me in welcoming my colleague and my friend, the
11:44 am
senator from tennessee, the honorable lamar alexander. >> mr. president, mr. vice president, ladies and gentlemen, the late alex haley, the author of "roots," lived his life by these six words -- find the good and praise it. today we praise the american tradition of transferring or reaffirming immense power in the inauguration of the president of the united states. we do this in a peaceful, orderly way. there is no mob, no coup, no insurrection. this is a moment when millions stop and watch, a moment most of us always will remember.
11:45 am
it is a moment that is our most conspicuous and enduring symbol of the american democracy. how remarkable that this has survived for so long in such a complex country when so much power is at stake. this freedom to vote for our leaders and the restraint to respect the results. last year at mt. vernon, a tour guide told me that our first president, george washington, once posed this question -- what is most important, washington asked, of this grand experiment, the united states? and then washington answered his own question in this way -- not the election of the first president, but the election of its second president, the peaceful transfer of power is what will separate our country
11:46 am
from every other country in the world. so, today we celebrate the 57th inauguration of the american preside president. find the good and praise it. now, it is my honor -- [ applause ] it is my honor to introduce the associate justice of the supreme court, sonia sotomayor, for the purpose of administering the oath of office to the vice president. will everyone please stand? >> thanks for doing this. >> thank you. mr. vice president, please raise your right hand and repeat after me. i, joseph r. biden jr., do
11:47 am
solemnly swear. >> i, joseph r. biden jr., do solemnly swear. >> that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. >> that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic. >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic. >> that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. >> that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. >> that i take this obligation freely. >> that i take this obligation freely. >> without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. >> without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. >> and that i will well and faithfully discharge. >> and that i will well and faithfully discharge. >> the duties of the office of which i am about to enter. >> the duties of the office of which i am about to enter. >> so help me god. >> so help me god. >> congratulations. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ >> thank you.
11:48 am
>> i appreciate it. ♪ >> it is my pleasure to introduce renowned musical artist james taylor.
11:49 am
♪ oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain ♪ ♪ for purple mountains' majesties above the fruited plain ♪ ♪ america, america, god shed his grace on thee ♪ ♪ and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea ♪
11:50 am
♪ from sea to shining sea [ applause ] >> it is my honor to present the chief justice of the united states, john g. roberts jr., who will administer the presidential oath of office. everyone, please rise. >> please raise your right hand and repeat after me.
11:51 am
i, barack hussein obama, do solemnly swear. >> i, barack hussein obama, do solemnly swear. >> that i will faithfully execute. >> that i will faithfully execute. >> the office of the president of the united states. >> the office of the president of the united states. >> and will, to the best of my ability. >> and will, to the best of my ability. >> preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states. >> preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states. >> so help me god. >> so help me god. >> congratulations, mr. president. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪
11:52 am
♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, it is my great privilege and distinct honor to introduce the 44th president of the united states of america, barack h. obama! [ cheers and applause ]
11:53 am
>> thank you. thank you. thank you so much. vice president biden, mr. chief justice, members of the united states congress, distinguished guests and fellow citizens, each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to
11:54 am
the enduring strength of our constituti constituti constitution, we affirm the promise of our democracy, we recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the penance of our faith or the origins of our names. what makes us exceptional, what makes us american is our allegiance to an idea articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago. "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." that being endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are
11:55 am
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. today we continue a never-ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. for history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they've never been self-executing, that while freedom is a gift from god, it must be secured by his people here on earth. the patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. they gave to us a republic, a government of and by and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our
11:56 am
founding creed. and for more than 200 years, we ha ha have, through blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learned that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half slave and half free. we made ourselves anew and vowed to move forward together. together we determined that a modern economy that creates railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce, schools and colleges to train our workers. together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play. together, we resolve that a great nation must care for the vulnerable and protect its people from life's worst hazards and misfortune.
11:57 am
through it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumb to the fiction that all society's ills can be cured through government alone. our celebration of initiatives and enterprise, our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, these are constants in our character. we have always understood that when times change, so must we, that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges, that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action. for the american people can no more meet the demands of today's world by acting alone than american soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism with muskets and militias. no single person can train all the math and science teachers
11:58 am
we'll need to equip our children for the future or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores. now more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation and one people. this generation of americans has been tested by crises that sealed our resolve and proved our resilience. a decade of war is now ending. an economic recovery has begun. america's possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands --
11:59 am
youth and drive, diversity and openness, an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. my fellow americans, we are made for this moment and we will seize it so long as we seize it together. for we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. we believe that america's prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. we know that america thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work, when the wages of honest labor liberate families from the brink of hardship. we are true to our creed when a
12:00 pm
little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed she is free. and she is equal not just in the eyes of god, but also in our own. we understand that our programs are inadequate to the needs of our time, but we must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, reach higher. but while the means will change, our purpose in doing, a nation that rewards the effort and determination of every single american. that is what this moment requires. that is what will give real meaning to our creed.
12:01 pm
we, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. we must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit. but we reject the belief that america must choose between caring for the generation that built this country, and investing in the generation that will build its future. for we remember the lessons of our past, when twilight years were spent in poverty, and parents of a child with a disability had nowhere to turn. we do not believe that in this country freedom is reserved for the lucky, or happiness for the few. we recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives,
12:02 pm
any one of us, at any time, may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, or a home swept away in a terrible storm. the commitments we make to each other, through medicare and medicaid and social security, these things do not sap our nation, they strengthen us. they do not make us a nation of takers, they free us to take the risks that make this country great. we, the people, still believe that our obligations as americans are not just to ourselves, but to all prosperity. we will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.
12:03 pm
some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought and more powerful storms. the path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. but america cannot resist this transition. we must lead it. we cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industry, we must claim its promise. that's how we will maintain our economic vitality, and our national treasure. our forests and waterways, our croplands and snow-capped peaks. that is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by god. that's what will lend meaning to
12:04 pm
the creed our fathers once declared. we, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war. our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage. our citizens, feared by the memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is paid for liberty. the knowledge of their sacrifice will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us harm. but we are also heirs to those who won the peace and not just the war. who turned sworn enemies into the surest of friends, and we must carry those lessons into this time, as well.
12:05 pm
we will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms, and the rule of law. we will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully, not because we are naive about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durbly lift suspicion and fear. america will remain the anchor of strong alliances in every corner of the globe, and we will renew those institutions that extend our capacity to manage crises abroad. for no one has a greater stake in a peaceful world than its most powerful nation. we will support democracy from asia to africa, from the americas to the middle east, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act on behalf of those who long for freedom, and we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of
12:06 pm
prejudice, not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes, tolerance and opportunity, human dignity and justice. we, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths that all of us are created equal, is the star that guides us still, just as it guided our forbears through seneca falls and selma and stonewall, just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone. to hear a king proclaim, that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on earth.
12:07 pm
it is now our generation's task to carry on what those pioneers began. for our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law. for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal, as well. our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful
12:08 pm
immigrants who still see america as a land of opportunity, until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce, rather than expelled from our country. our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of detroit to the hills of appalachia to the quiet lanes of newtown know that they are cared for and cherished and always safe from harm. that is our generation's task. to make these words, these rights, these values of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness real for every american. being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life.
12:09 pm
it does not mean we all define liberty in exactly the same way. or follow the same, precise path to happiness. progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time, but it does require us to act in our time. for now, decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. we cannot mistake absoluteism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name calling as reasoned debate. we must act. we must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect. we must act, knowing that today's victories will be only
12:10 pm
partial, and that it will be up to those who stand here in four years, and 40 years, and 400 years hence, to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare, philadelphia hall. my fellow americans, the oath i have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who serve in this capitol, was an oath to god and country, not party or faction. and we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration of our service. but the words i spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty. or an immigrant realizes her dream. my oath is not so different from the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that
12:11 pm
fills our hearts with pride. they are the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope. you and i, as citizens, have the power to set this country's courses. you and i, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time, not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideas. let us each of us now embrace with solemn duty and awesome joy what is our lasting birth right. with common effort, and common purpose, with passion, and dedication, let us answer the call of history and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom. thank you, god bless you. and may he forever bless these united states of america.
12:12 pm
>> at this time, please join in welcoming award winning artist, kelly clarkson, accompanied by
12:13 pm
the united states marine band. ♪ ♪ my country 'tis of thee ♪ sweet land of liberty of thee i sing ♪
12:14 pm
♪ land where my fathers died land of the pilgrims' pride from every mountainside let freedom ring ♪ ♪ let music swell the breeze and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song ♪ ♪ let mortal tongues awake let all that breathe partake ♪
12:15 pm
♪ let rocks their silence break ♪ ♪ our father's god to thee author of liberty to thee we sing ♪ ♪ long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light ♪ ♪ protect us by thy might
12:16 pm
great god our king ♪ >> wow. our next distinguished guest is the poet richard blanco who will share with us words he has composed for this occasion.
12:17 pm
>> mr. president, mr. vice president, america, one today. one sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores, peeking over the smokies, greeting the faces of the great lakes, spreading a simple truth across the great plains and charging across the rockies. one light, waking up rooftops, under each one a story, told by our silent gestures, moving across windows.
12:18 pm
my face, your face, millions of faces in morning's mirrors, each one yawning to life, crescendoing into our day. the pencilled yellow school buses, the rhythm of traffic lights, fruit stands, apples, limes and oranges, arrayed like rainbows, begging our praise. silver trucks, heavy with oil or paper, bricks or milk, teeming over highways, alongside us, on our way, to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives. to teach geometry, or ring up groceries, as my mother did, for 20 years, so i could write this poem for all of us today. all of us. as vital as the one light we
12:19 pm
move through, the same light on blackboards with lessons for the day, equations to solve, history to question, or atoms imagined. the i have a dream we all keep dreaming. or the impossible vocabulary of sorrow that won't explain the empty desks of 20 children marked absent today, and forever. many prayers, but one life, breathing color into stained glass windows, life into the faces of bronze statues, warmth onto the steps of our museums and park benches, as mothers watch children slide into the day. one ground. our ground. rooting us to every stalk of corn, every head of wheat sown
12:20 pm
by sweat and hands. hands gleaning coal or planting windmills in deserts and hilltops that keep us warm. hands digging trenches, routing pipes and cables. hands as worn as my father's, cutting sugarcane so my brother and i could have books and shoes. the dust of farms and deserts, cities and plains, mingled by one wind, our breath. breathe. hear it through the day's gorgeous din of honking cabs, buses launching down avenues, the symphony of footsteps, guitars and screeching subways. the unexpected song bird on your clothesline. hear squeaky playground swings,
12:21 pm
trains whistling, or whispers acrokrocross cafe tables. hear the doors we open each day for each other, saying, hello, shall up, bon giorno, howdy, namaste, or buenos dias. in the language my mother taught me. in every language, spoken into one wind, carrying our lives without prejudice, as these words break from my lips. one sky, since the appalachians and sierras claimed their majesty, and the mississippi and colorado worked their way to the sea. thank the work of our hands, weaving steel into bridges, finishing one more report for the boss on time, stitching
12:22 pm
another wound or uniform. the first brush stroke on a portrait, or the last floor on the freedom tower, jutting into the sky, that yields to our resilience. one sky. toward which we sometimes lift our eyes, tired from work. some days guessing at the weather of our lives. some days giving thanks for a love that loves you back. sometimes praising a mother who knew how to give, or forgiving a father who couldn't give what you wanted. we head home through the gloss of rain or weight of snow, or the plum blush of dusk. but always, always home.
12:23 pm
always under one sky. our sky. and always one moon, like a silent drum tapping on every rooftop and every window of one country. all of us, facing the stars. hope, a new constellation. waiting for us to map it. waiting for us to name it, together. >> ladies and gentlemen, it is now my privilege to introduce reverend dr. luis leon to deliver the benediction.
12:24 pm
>> let us pray. gracious and eternal god, as we conclude the second inauguration of president obama, we ask for your blessings as we seek to become, in the words of martin luther king, citizens of a beloved community, loving you and loving our neighbors as ourselves. we pray that you will douse us with your continued presence, because without it, hatred and arrogance will infect our hearts. but with your blessing, we know that we can break down the walls that separate us. we pray for your blessing today,
12:25 pm
because without it, mistrust, prejudice, and rancor will rule our hearts. but with the blessing of your presence, we know that we can renew the ties of mutual regard which can best form our civic life. we pray for your blessing, because without it, suspicion, despair, and fear of those different from us will be our rule of life. but with your blessing, we can see each other created in your image. a unit of god's grace, unprecedented, irrepeatable, and irreplaceable. repray for your blessing, because without it, we will see only what the eye can see. but with the blessing of your blessing we will see that we are created in your image, whether brown, black, or white, male or
12:26 pm
female, first generation immigrant american, or daughter of the american revolution, gay or straight, rich or poor. we pray for your blessing, because without it, we will only see scarcity in the midst of abundance. but with your blessing, we will recognize the abundance of the gifts of this good land with which you have endowed this nation. we pray for your blessing. bless all of us. privileged to be citizens and residents of this nation, with a spirit of gratitude and humility that we may become a blessing among the nations of this world. we pray that you will shower with your life-giving spirit the elected leaders of this land,
12:27 pm
especially barack our president and joe our vice president. fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, that they may serve this nation ably and be glad to do your will. endow their hearts with wisdom and forbearance so that peace may prevail with righteousness, justice with order, so that men and women throughout this nation can find with one another the fulfillment of our humanity. we pray that the president, vice president, and all in political authority will remember the words of the prophet micah, what doth the lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and always walk humbly with god. [ speaking spanish ] mr. president, mr. vice
12:28 pm
president, may god bless you all your days. all this, we pray in your most holy name. amen. >> ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the singing of our national anthem by award-winning artist, beyonce, accompanied by the u.s. marine band. following the national anthem, please remain at your place while the presidential party exits the platform. ♪
12:29 pm
♪ o say, can you see by the dawn's early light ♪ ♪ what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? ♪ ♪ whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ o'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? ♪
12:30 pm
♪ and the rockets' red glare the bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ gave proof through the night that our flag was still there ♪ ♪ o say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ o'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ and the home of the brave? ♪
12:31 pm
♪ the brave >> not at all sure that beyonce needed the microphone. i'm sure they probably could have heard her all the way down to the lincoln memorial without it. a beautiful rendition of the national anthem as we hear the marine band strike up the tune and we watch the president and the rest of the dignitaries proceed to lunch in the capitol. the president's second inaugural address might be considered, when you strip everything away, might be considered on this martin luther king day to have
12:32 pm
been a civil rights speech. right in the middle of the speech, the president said, we declare today the most evident of truth that all of us are created equal, it is the star that guides us, just as it guided our forbears through seneca falls and selma and stonewall. three touchstones of the american civil rights movement. seneca falls. the first major women's rights convention in seneca falls, new york, in 1948. stonewall, the stonewall inn in new york city, 1969, a gay bar that the new york city police raided, touching off the gay rights movement. and selma, of course, selma, alabama, 1965, where the police cracked down on the freedom
12:33 pm
marchers. the president used the preamble of the constitution, those first three words, we, the people. over and over again. in a speech that sought to stitch together the very tapestry of the american people. we're joined up here by bob schieffer, our chief washington correspondent, and anchor of "face the nation," and note the presidential historian doug brinkley. bob, what did you hear in the speech? >> well, i'll tell you what i did not hear. i didn't hear a line that kind of sums it up. there was no, the only thing we have to fear, there was no, with malice toward none, with charity for all. i kept looking in the speech at some point for that line. this was not that kind of a speech. in a funny kind of way, this was almost more like a state of the union speech where the president
12:34 pm
lays out his programs, and so forth. i'll tell you something else i did not hear. i did not hear him ask the american people for anything. there was no call to sacrifice, no ask not what you -- what your country can do for, but what you can do for your country. i suppose the -- i guess, if i understood what the president was saying today, it was that, on martin luther king's birthday, the next step for the march toward full equality has to deal with gay people. i would expect that would be the deadline. >> and richard blouanco the poe we heard after the president's address is a gay american and luis leon, the president of st. john's church who delivered the benediction, leads a church that performs same-sex marriages, as well. so a subtle statement there with the choosing of those gentlemen. doug brinkley, what did you hear
12:35 pm
in the speech? >> i thought it was a brave and visionary speech, written and delivered in a martin luther king style. i think it will be seen as a great civil rights speech. it's not, you know, and remember, also, in this, he brought in climate change. do you realize in all the presidential debates climate never came up. so it's not necessarily on everybody's mind. and he devoted a paragraph towards the climate issue saying we've got to do something about it, then went on talking about our natural resources. presidents you don't often hear talk about conservation. and the gay rights part of it. you could hear the cheering in the french quarter and castro street in greenwich village. this is a liberation speech for gay americans and it builds on the president's accomplishment of getting gay marriage, you know, institutionalized for america in the process of that. and finally, when he supports social security, medicaid and medicare, that's straight lyndon johnson, great society talk. this is a speech in the progressive tradition. at some points it's like the second inaugural of franklin
12:36 pm
roosevelt where fdr in 1937 said be proud you're an individual but there's also a collective. and you guys mentioned the word people, how often he said, we, the people. but this is, we, the people almost in a howard zimm people of america kind of way. this was about ordinary people fighting for ordinary rights, stonewall has replaced normandy. you know, selma has replaced iwo jima. there wasn't a marshal tone, this was about inclusion. >> he used the term we, and he used the term common creed over and over again throughout the speech. norah o'donnell was listening to the speech down there on the national mall. nor norah? >> and, scott, on that theme the president used the word together some seven times. a word he used just once in 2009. and i think you're right, this was in some ways a civil rights speech. because the president said, our journey is not complete. that's the message on this martin luther king day.
12:37 pm
and he said when times change, so must we. so i think all of those things are right. and he said, you know, it's not what binds this nation together is not the color of our skin, or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names, it's the values. the values and the declaration of independence. so this is his second inaugural. but this, i think, speech, is also in tune with the message that barack obama has had since 2004 when we were first introduced to him at the democratic convention in a way. when he gave that speech about kind of trying to be a unifying president. it continues the tradition of obama trying to bring people together. that's not been his record in office as president. but it's still the message that he adhered to in big speeches like this. >> and there's john kerry, who the president has nominated to be secretary of state. and behind john kerry was jack lew, who the president has nominated to be treasury secretary. the president has a new team that he's trying to get approved
12:38 pm
by the senate. this will be some of the first business that will be before the congress. the new treasury secretary, the new secretary of state. and, of course, confirming chuck hagel as the new secretary of defense. there's beyonce, who did such a magnificent job with the national anthem just a few moments ago. john dickerson is our cbs news political director, and he is down there with, we, the people, on the national mall. john? >> scott, normally presidents in these speeches, they take history and they bring it onstage so they can attach their agenda to it. as we've talked about, in his first speech barack obama mentioned concord, gettysburg, normandy. that history has been replaced with the civil rights history and the agenda is more in keeping with that. he talked about immigration, climate change, gun control, these are all items that when republicans i've been e-mailing with hear this, they hear the return of big government, and also they heard in his speech when the president said support for those new deal programs,
12:39 pm
make us -- they do not make us a nation of takers, they free us to take the risk that make this country great. that is code language from the campaign in which republicans talked about makers versus takers. there are echoes here that republicans here, and they get their back up. >> talk about unity. in one shot you have jay-z and paul ryan. i don't know under what circumstances you would ever have those men in the same frame. but jay-z with beyonce, of course, and paul ryan the republican nominee for vice president. this is a live picture of the president proceeding through the capitol. he's headed to a lunch, the traditional lunch proceeding under the great dome of the capitol. the 150th anniversary of the completion of the dome is this year. a dome built during the civil war. a symbol of the unity of the nation. the president's proceeding in to that lunch now.
12:40 pm
there was a moment that occurred on the west front, just after all of this was wrapped up, after the national anthem was sung, and the president had something to say. and we wanted to show that to you. >> the president taking one last look at this view. he wanted to stop and linger and see it, record it so that he would never forget his last opportunity to look down the national mall toward the washington monument and the lincoln memorial, to see the crowd who came to hear him deliver his inaugural speech. byron pitts is down in that crowd right now. byron? >> well, scott, i'll tell you the mood is very different this year from four years ago. for one, president obama's speech was much shorter this time. in 2009 he spoke for over 19
12:41 pm
minutes. we clocked him today at 18 minutes and 17 seconds. four years ago it was much colder, scott, as you'll remember, so people huddled close and leaned into the president's speech. this time people so the camp for thebly in their chairs and seemed to nod in approval as he spoke. four years ago we watched as people wept openly. didn't see a single tear this time. i spoke to one gentleman from pennsylvania, a white man, who said he cried four years ago. i said what happened this time? he said, well, the novelty has passed. we're over now. now it's about the nuts and bolts of government, not the novelty of an african-american president. now scott, finally, on this martin luther king day, we spoke to mrs. edwina moses, the wife of president otis moses of cleveland, ohio. they were married by dr. king 50 years ago. she said today is a joyous day for her and her husband. scott? >> now, this is a live picture of the president and the vice president. you see there, in the capitol.
12:42 pm
they will be signing official documents that are related to the inauguration. speaker of the house, john boehner, standing behind him. eric cantor, majority leader of the house and nancy pelosi, the minority leader. president obama at the age of 51 beginning his second term. >> -- which i know will be -- with great disabandon. >> he is now talking about the cabinet nominations. as we mentioned there are several key nominations, the president naming john kerry to be secretary of state. chuck hagel to be defense secretary. and jack lew to be secretary of the treasury.
12:43 pm
key positions in the government that the president will certainly want to see the senate act on right away. >> well thank you very much, everybody. look forward to it. >> we're told that on the way to lunch, the president and his party will stop by a bust of martin luther king jr., which stands in the capitol, and stand there for a moment of reflection as this inauguration day coincides with martin luther king day in this country. the president handing out pens, as he often does after signing bills.
12:44 pm
as they proceed to the elaborate formal luncheon in statuary hall of the capitol, let's go back outside to chip reid, who is with one family that traveled a good distance to reach washington, and watch this moment in history. chip? >> yeah, well, scott, you would think they were one family. it's actually two families. they're very good friend. the collins family who brought their three children and the roth family who brought their two children. and they felt that it was very important to be here for this. shannon collins, tell me why. >> we just think it's an awesome experience and awesome time for the kids to see our first african-american president, in his second term. we think it shows them that they can be what they want to be and anything that they work hard to be. >> how about you? michelle roth. i got it right?
12:45 pm
>> yes, you did. i share her sentiments exactly. it's very important for our children to see that they can be anything they want to be. and it's more importantly for us, as small business owners of a small hospice company we think what he has to say about health care and small business was very important. >> is it also important to you to be able to, for your children to be able to say for the rest of their lives that they were here at this moment? >> exactly. they'll have stories for their children, our grandchildren to say where were you at that time? and we can say, we were right there. >> david, you were saying you didn't know what an inauguration was before you came here today. what do you think about it now? >> well, actually, i think it's pretty cool now. >> it changed your mind about what you want to do with your life? >> yeah, i sort of want to be a president now. >> now, i knew that was coming, scott. he told us earlier he felt that way. but i thought i would share that with the world. scott, back to you. >> hey, chip, who is that in the pink parka there? did that little guy sleep through the inauguration? who do we have there in the pink parka? >> this is -- this is trinity here. trinity is 2, and she slept through quite a bit of it.
12:46 pm
but she also did some wandering around in the crowd and attracted a lot of attention. back here you have carter, and over here you have zero, aoe, ay are twins. they actually listened to quite a bit of the speech. they are four years old and the entire family was, i can say, i watched them, very much engaged in the entire inauguration and especially when the president spoke. scott? >> well, i know their parents will be reminding them of this day as they grow older. cbs news live coverage of the inauguration of president obama will continue. in just a moment. george washington had help writing his first inaugural address from a future president, james madison. washington's second inaugural address in 1793 was the shortest in history, at a minute and a half. or 135 words. maybe you can be there;
12:47 pm
12:48 pm
maybe you can't. when you have migraines with fifteen or more headache days a month, you miss out on your life. you may have chronic migraine. go to mychronicmigraine.com to find a headache specialist. and don't live a maybe life.
12:49 pm
the weather has played a significant role in presidential inaugurations. but never more so than in 1841. william henry harrison was sworn in as the ninth u.s. president on a cold and windy day, with 8,445 word speech lasted an hour and 40 minutes. the longest inaugural address ever. he then rode a horse from the capitol back to the white house with no hat or overcoat, and he came down with pneumonia. william henry harrison died one month later. the shortest presidency in the nation's history. >> well, the weather did not take nearly such a toll on the crowd here on the national mall today. it's 41 degrees outside. it was only 28 degrees when the
12:50 pm
president took his first oath in 2009. it's a cloudy day in washington. but the weather has not been nearly the terrible kind of situation that it has been in previous -- previous times when presidents have been inaugurated. there have been some fierce snowstorms and deeply cold temperatures. but today was a beautiful day for an inauguration. let's have a look now. we want to replay for you the president taking the oath of office from the chief justice of the united states, john roberts jr. >> please raise your right hand and repeat after me. i, barack hussein obama, do solemnly swear. >> i barack hussein obama do solemnly swear. >> that i will faithfully execute. >> that i will faithfully execute. >> the office of president of the united states. >> the office of president of the united states. >> and will, to the best of my ability. >> and will, to the best of my ability. >> preserve, protect and defend. >> preserve, protect and defend. >> the constitution of the united states.
12:51 pm
>> the constitution of the united states. >> so help you god? >> so help me god. >> congratulations, mr. president. >> so you could see the first lady there, just beaming at her husband, as he took the oath for the second time. in 2009 she had a look on her face like she couldn't believe she was there. this time, a look on her face of absolute love and admiration for her husband as he is sworn in. the oath is just 35 words. and it is written in our original constitution. the 1787 constitution. doug brinkley, where do those words come from? >> from the constitution, section number 2, from it, and washington delivered the first one, our founding fathers, the creators of our country, they had to make an oath, they had to create the great seal of the united states, they had to pick the eagle symbol. this was all work going on and what's controversy is you hear so help me god. it's unclear whether washington actually said that.
12:52 pm
that's not in the official oath. it's been improvised over the years but it's really franklin d. roosevelt who started putting that in and every president since franklin roosevelt has just said it but it's not constitutionally mandated. >> you know, scott, barack obama is the first president since franklin roosevelt to now have taken the oath four times. because he took it twice in 2009, because the chief justice sort of misstated part of it. and they were afraid for legal reasons, he came back the next day and took it. and then, of course, he took it yesterday, because january 20th is the day that the constitution says you have to take it. and then repeated it again today. only fdr has taken it that many times. >> so president obama has made history again, fdr, of course, was elected four times and had to take the oath four times but the president has taken it four times for the reasons you just stated. the 20th amendment of the constitution sets january 20th as the day that the president must take the oath. must take the oath by noon on january 20th.
12:53 pm
but because it fell on sunday, they decided to put off all of the official ceremonies to today. but the president was sworn in yesterday, at the white house, in the blue room, with just his family and the chief justice present. sworn in before noon. for the beginning of his second term. these are live pictures now of the national mall, as the crowd begins to thin out after beyonce rocked the mall, singing the national anthem just a short while ago. the president, and other dignitaries, are heading soon to statuary hall inside the capitol for the big formal luncheon that always comes after this. and then following that, we will see the president in the procession back to the white house about 1.6 miles away. there is jack lew, who is the president's nominee for secretary of the treasury, awaiting confirmation by the
12:54 pm
senate. nancy cordes has been on the west front of the capitol building for us all morning this morning. nancy, you're beginning to look a little lonely out there. >> i am, scott. i'm looking at all the activity here on the west front that remains, and it is a bunch of people taking pictures beyonce as she poses at that west front door, with her husband jay-z in front of all that red swag around the door front. it may be, scott, the fact that i cover capitol hill, but i read a lot of the president's speech today as a message to congress. almost pleading with them to work with him to get something done. he said these truths may be self-evident, but they're not self-executing. in other words, don't let the purpose be the enemy of the good, let's just get something done. he said, absoluteism can't be a replacement for principle. and that name calling isn't the same thing as debate. he knows that his legacy in
12:55 pm
large part is going to depend on congress working with him to enact legislation. republicans, of course, many of whom were sitting here today, will argue that it is the president that needs to meet them halfway and needs to get far more engaged with republicans on capitol hill, if he wants to work on some of these major issues that he's outlined for a second term like immigration and tax reform. >> the president has long agenda for the second term, and major garrett, our chief white house correspondent has been watching allful this from the other end of pennsylvania avenue there on the north lawn of the white house. major? >> well, scott, many senior administration officials tell us that this speech reflects, in large measure, what the president thought the entire campaign for his re-election was all about. settling some arguments, advancing others. let's talk for a moment about the arguments the president believes, and white house believes this speech reflects, which settled in this campaign, that was just concluded. one, an end to endless war. the president's winding down the war in afghanistan. ended the war in iraq as he
12:56 pm
pledged to as a candidate for the democratic nomination. but the middle class is the center of all economic kelps as far as his presidency is concerned. he said one time in the speech that we are liberated -- rather wages for honest work can liberate people from hardship. also the president believes civil rights issues, particularly gay rights, were settled during his first term, when at the pentagon and throughout all military service, "don't ask, don't tell" was ended under his watch and he embraced formally for the first time gay marriage across the country. what arguments are to be settled for fought for in the future? climate change, immigration and tax reform among others. the president did at one point in his speech say there are some parts of government that need to be reformed, but our usefulness of one small olive branch to republicans. but we are not a nation of takers and the fundamental foundations of the great society, medicare, medicaid and social security will be preserved under his watch and the encroachments republicans
12:57 pm
would like to make on those programs from the president's perspective in the name of deficit reduction will be, if not repelled, at least resisted. scott? >> major, thank you very much. this is the crowd in washington, d.c., live, as they begin to wander away from the national mall, after witnessing american history firsthand. during the president's first inauguration, in 2009, a historic event for the nation, of course, there were 1.8 million people in the national mall. it was the largest gathering this city has ever seen. today, we don't have the estimates, but fair to say, something perhaps just under a million people. second inaugurations always lack the thrill of the first. but, still, a very large crowd has come to see the president today. the president will proceed with the rest of the dignitaries in to a luncheon at statuary hall.
12:58 pm
and then will go back down to the white house and we will see the inaugural parade as it proceeds to the afternoon. there is, of course, 66-year-old former president bill clinton. because of the illness of george herbert walker bush, only democratic presidents were in attendance today. that is a very rare occurrence, but because the elder mr. bush has been ill, the younger mr. bush decided to stay back with him, and so both sent their regrets, and were unable to come. there you see secretary of state hillary clinton in the lower right. cbs news live coverage of the inauguration of the president will continue from washington, d.c. in just a moment. [ male announcer ] when your business is powered by verizon,
12:59 pm
you can do more business per second. and with more reliable internet, that's more per second. and with a dedicated line, it's more per second. and with an additional line, it's more... table for 15? [ male announcer ] ...per second. but most importantly, it's more... mmm! [ male announcer ] ...per second. get verizon high-speed internet and phone for just $84.99 a month when you sign up online with a two-year price guarantee.

479 Views

info Stream Only

Uploaded by TV Archive on